KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has told the Opposition to react to facts and not sentiments fuelled by hatred and anger.
The Prime Minister was responding to claims of a rise in electricity tariffs for the industrial sector affecting the people.
"Please listen to my speech at an event Monday night (Feb 3) when I was responding to a request by the president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, (ACCCIM) Datuk Ng Yih Pyng.
"The problem is (you) listen with sentiments of hatred," he told Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Feb 4).
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Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had accused the government of "flip-flop" decisions over the electricity tariff.
It was recently reported that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is looking at raising the base electricity tariff for Peninsular Malaysia by 14.2% under the Regulatory Period 4 between 2025 and 2027, to be implemented from July 1.
Anwar said he had clarified the matter with captains of industry at Monday's event, adding that TNB has been told to provide more information on its recommended tariff hike.
"The increase is for industries, not the rakyat. I also said that it is not 14% as what was announced," he said.
He reiterated that the tarrif hike will not affect 85% of households in the country but only industries and the rich.
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“If we don’t tax the wealthy, where will the money come from to increase allocations for schools and hospitals?
“We must accept a reasonable tariff increase for industries and the wealthy," he said.
He added that there will be no compromise on the tariff hike from July 1, and 85% of households will not be affected.
"Please listen carefully and not with sentiments of anger.
"This illness is not based on facts but is a sickness of anger," he said, drawing thumps of approval from backbenchers.
